Improvement in harvester-rakes



JOHN WALMSL`EY 2`Sheets-Sheet1.

Improvement in Har-vester Rakes. No. 123,752. Patented F@b.13,1a72.

.IO H-N WA L MS LEY, 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

Improvement in Harvester Rakes. No. 123,752. Patented Feb.13,1s72.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

JOHN WALMSLEY, OF LONDON, CANADA.

IMPRovsMENT IN HARVESTER-RAKES.

Specification describing certain Improvements in Harvesters, invented by JOHN WALMSLEY, of London, in the county ofMidl dlesex and Province of Ontario, Dominion of gearing; Fig. 3, an elevation of the rake and its connecting` parts; Fig. 4, an interior elevation of the side ofthe platform; Fig. 5, a plan ofthe double cranks which give motion to the two sets of knives.

A represents the main frame, and B B the driving-wheels.

to the frame D is the rake which sweeps over the platf'orm. The wheels are ratcheted to the axle E, as usual, to allow the machine to back up without giving motion to the knives. On -this axle is secured a gear-wheel, G, and sprocket-wheel H. The former gives motion i to the knives by means of pinion I and double cranks a c, and pitmen b b,- Awhile the latter gives motion to the rake by means of the endless chain K and corresponding crank-wheel L. This arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 1. AThe rake consists of two parts, D D 5 the former serving as the shank or guide-head, while the latter is the rake proper, and carries the teeth c c, by which the grain is swept off. The shank I) is attached to a bow, M, which swings around a vertical axis, N. The upper part' d of the bow has a close play around the axis, but the lower part d has an elongated slot, f, which allows the rake to rise and fall at its outer end to adapt itself to the track, as will presentlyT be described. This is a special-and important feature in my invention. The rear ends of the parts Z d of the bow are united by an inclined and irregularshaped loop, g, which embraces the crank-pin h of the wheel L, which imparts a reciprocating motion by playing in the loop. The opposite end of shank D has a friction-roller, i,

`which runs back through a groove or track,

k, to sweep the grain olf, which groove is cut in the side of the platform, and returns to the front again by passing up over the top k1 of the platform side. In order to complete this C is the platform, which is' inthe form of a quadrant, and attached fast circuit I make a connecting-passage, k2, at the front, through which the roller drops when it reaches that point, and a swinging latch, l, at the rear,` which the roller lifts in passing under and travels above in passing over. This is clearly shown in Fig. 4. The rake is allowed to rise and fall in making this circuit by means of the slot f, before described. The head D is attached to the shank by means of a fulcrum, m, which is pivoted at both ends, so as to allow a free rocking motion. It is stayed and guided by means of a segment, fn, fast to the lower part, and playing in a slot of the upper part. At the outer end of the head is a guideroller, o, which runs in contact with the inner side of the platform. This arrangement and method of hanging the head to the shank allows it to adapt itself to the platform and to light or heavy grain in passing over. The pitmen b b of the double cranks a a connect respectively with double knives l? Q, which lie one set on top the other. These knives receive a reciprocating motion in opposite directions, and, by their rapid motion, cut the grain. If desired, the ordinary guards may be employed, or a single set of the knives may be used in connection with the guards. The gear G is simply a thin disk with the teeth formed in its face by cutting the openings 1* 1' entirely through it, as shown in Fig. 2. The pinion I also has its teeth formed by cutting the spaces between the teeth beveling from the center forward and backward in a longitudinal direction, as shown at sin the same ligure. -This method of cutting the teeth of the gears insures a ready discharge of the finelycut grass or other extraneous matter which enters, and thus prevents clogging. i

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. I claim in a harvester the bow M provided with the slot f and loop g, when combined with the rake D D', made in two parts and connectedtogether by the plates m lm, as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WALMSLEY.

Witnesses:

It. F.- OsGooD, Ancnn BAINE. 

